Ben, this is America. The mayor is first in charge, followed by the governor. Go read a political science book. Where is the mayor? Hopefully looking for a new job. .
-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Wisner <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sep 1, 2005 4:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Poverty, looters, the real looters
Terry Cannon makes an excellent point about the Bush, Homeland Security Inc., et al. diversion of resources.
A statistical detail you all might find useful in teaching and agit prop: The most recent census in New Orleans found 112,000 households without their own cars. After hurricane Ivan last year, authorities did a table top planning exercise for a hypothetical "worst case" hurricane" they named "Pam." They assumed a storm surge that topped the levees. As of Katrina's land fall, however, in the follow up to that exercise, it seems no one had figured out what to do with these 112,000 households without transportation (low income, elderly, and disabled).
The conditions in the Superdome are truly horrific and violate international standards for shelter provision (see www.sphereproject.org ). Shifting people to another sports arena (Astrodome in Houston) is surreal. It is certainly not a solution to the shelter problem. Keeping people in such a facility for more than a few days is unconscionable. One official in New Orleans has told a reporter that he thinks the city should declare independence and request international aid. Indeed, it looks like the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Program, not to mention MSF would do a much better job a organizing shelter.
Meanwhile Bush is only appealing for donations to the America Red Cross, actually giving their phone number in his televised press conference. Smaller, local organizations such as the Louisiana Interfaith Council need support. They are capable not only of response but campaigning on the social justice and human rights issues that underlie the vulnerability of those 112,000 low income households (and others) in the first place.
Ben Wisner
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-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Cannon <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sep 1, 2005 5:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Hurricane Katrina
Dear All,
Lots of interesting material and ideas flowing from you, very useful. I am
just off to watch newsnight and record the footage for teaching, so this is
a quicky.
Two short points: the significance of poverty as a factor in preventing
many people from evacuating themselves and the position within this group
especially of the elderly and disabled.
Secondly, the demonising of looters that is going on. The main looter in
this is Bush and his supporters, who diverted the money for flood
prevention to homeland security and Iraq. This is a crucial propaganda
point to keep making. there is chapter and verse today in a very good
article in the Guardian today (by john vidal) on the diversion of funds
from flood preparedness, and on warnings given a year ago that without
further defences there would be a disaster.
Today TV correspondent in Biloxi was clearly shocked at the lack of any
relief giong on. There are reports of army trucks driving by hungry people
and ignoring them. He said it was worse than African disasters he has covered.
Re the looters, I am sure many are not necessarily pleasant people, but
what we are observing is a class struggle, of the dispossessed seizing on a
pathetic opportunity to claim something in the midst of the mayhem. One man
seen by a reporter had just taken many packs of cigarettes from a gas
station, and had a broad smile all over his face. Just how ground down he
must be to be thrilled at 50 dollars worth of cigarettes in a situation
when he was poor before, but now has no food or home...
Best wishes
Terry
At 15:29 01/09/2005, you wrote:
>Dear colleagues,
>
>Maureen Fordham and I would like to capture some of the rich discussion
>surrounding hurricane Katrina that is taking place on list servs. As you
>may know, since 2001 RADIX has been a public electronic resource for
>discussion of contextual, deep background, and also neglected
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